Lew Jetton (born 1959, Humboldt, Tennessee) is an
American blues guitarist and singer, who also spent many years as a
meteorologist and local television personality. He was born in Humboldt and
raised near Trenton, Tennessee.

After graduation from college at Middle Tennessee State University in 1981,
he worked in radio at WIRJ (AM)/WZDQ-FM in Humboldt, Tennessee from
1982–1983, moving to television as a weathercaster/news reporter at WBBJ-TV
in Jackson, Tennessee. He also spent a short stint as a sports anchor at
WBBJ, before moving to WPSD-TV in Paducah, Kentucky in 1989 as weekend news
anchor/meteorologist. Jetton is a second cousin of the late Pulitzer Prize
winning journalist Nat Caldwell of the Nashville Tennessean. Although very
popular with viewers, Jetton left WPSD to work in marketing.

Music

In 1994, while still working in local TV, he began playing guitar with
the Blues band 61 South, based in Paducah, Kentucky, which featured, among
others, Col. J.D. Wilkes, of Th' Legendary Shack Shakers and The Dirt
Daubers. Upon the departure of "Fast" Layne Hendrickson, the lead singer of
the band, Lew was recruited to become the frontman of the band, while
mentored by friend and Chicago Blues Legend
Snooky Pryor in nearby Ullin, Illinois.

Working and touring as a regional band in the Midwest and Mid-South, Lew
Jetton & 61 South shared billings with blues greats including
Luther Allison,
Koko Taylor,
Little Milton, Chuck Berry,
Lil Ed and The Blues Imperials and
many more. Lew Jetton & 61 South released two albums: State Line Blues
(2000) and Tales From A 2 Lane (2006). State Line Blues was the fourth best
Independent Blues Release in the United States by Real Blues
Magazine.[citation needed] Tales From A 2 Lane was selected as the Blues
Album of the Year by the Kentucky Blues Society, a "Pick to Click" by XM
Satellite Radio Bluesville (Channel 74), which kept Jetton originals "Waffle
House Woman" and "I Been Cheated" on their hot playlist throughout most of
2006. Tales From A 2 Lane was also selected one of the top Independent Blues
Releases by Real Blues Magazine.

In 2007, the band re-released 2000's State Line Blues, which was also
picked up as a "Pick to Click" on XM's Bluesville, with "Gettin' Colder,"
"State Line Blues" and "Homegrown Tomato" receiving the most airplay. Lew
Jetton & 61 South continue playing festivals and clubs and touring
extensively in the Midwest and Mid-South. occasionally venturing to other
regions.

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